2021-07-14
Getting to Ames, IA!
Getting to Ames by plane!
Arriving by plane at Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
Schedule Executive Express to Ames address!
Iowa Shuttle Service for 1 passenger is $57 as of 2021-07-12
Gratuity, i.e. tipping, guidelines
Tipping is optional, but …
Generally tip the following:
- Restaurant wait staff (15-20%)
- Taxi/Uber/Lyft drivers (10-15%)
- Hairstylist/Nail technician (15-20%)
Tip is calculated before tax (Ames, IA tax rate is 7%)
Menu prices do not inclue tax or tip
Continental United States
Iowa (IA) in Midwest Census Region
Iowa in East North Central Climatic Region
Ames is in Story County, IA
Getting to Ames by car
Getting to Ames by car
Iowa - top agricultural producer
- largest producer of
- second largest producer of
while being 26th in size and 30st in population
Ames, IA - one of the best places to live
Getting around Ames by car
Getting around Ames by bike
CyRide (bus, free for ISU students)
Getting a drivers license or Iowa ID
Vehicle Registration
Learning to drive
??
Register to vote
Where to live
- Geographically
- Anywhere in Ames
- Above Bloomington Rd is Gilbert School District
- Anywhere in Ames
- Type of accommodations
- University housing
- Apartment complex
- House rental
- Home purchase
Where to live - geographically
University Housing
Apartment/House Search
(no recommendations or endorsements are being made)
Rent Smart Ames
Rental Quirks in Ames
- University housing has strict move-in/move-out dates
- Other rental agreements run Aug 1 to July 31
- other ???
Utilities
- Required
- Optional
- Cell phones
- Internet
Natural gas from Alliant Energy
- Furnace/heat
- Gas stoves and ovens
- Fireplaces
- Laundry dryers
City of Ames Electric
1 of 3 power plants in the world that burn garbage to produce electricity
Garbage/Recycling/Compost
Garbage collectors
Do not put glass or food waste in garbage. Metal gets extracted by magnets.
Glass/can recycling
Recycling collectors
My understanding is most recycled materials are trucked to Des Moines and then sent by rail out of state.
Compost
Free to do it yourself or curbside pickup by Core Living Compost
Cell phones
Internet
Shopping, e.g. groceries
HyVee - employee owned
Ames Asia Market West (west Ames)
Ames Asian Market (north Ames)
Asia Foods Store (downtown)
Used furniture
News
What to do in Ames - Summer
Furman Aquatic Center - ($6/day for ISU Student)
Reiman Gardens - (free for ISU students)
Reiman Gardens - World’s largest gnome
Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake
Ames weather - temperature/precipitation
Ames weather - winters
Snow emergency routes
Thunderstorms/tornados/derecho
Story County Severe Weather Alert
- [Opt-In to Receive Severe Weather Alerts on your phone]](https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/1155/Story-County-Iowa-Alerts)
- siren test first Wednesday of every month at 10am
- Tornado Watch < Tornado Warning
What to do in Ames - All year
Seven Oaks Recreation
Questions?
Slides online
all orientation slides are available at
https://isustatistics.github.io/grad_orientation/
these slides are available at
https://isustatistics.github.io/grad_orientation/ames.html
provide updates by generating a pull request at